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Knicks get Crawford and Williams from Bulls

 
08.5.2004

New York, NY (Basketball News) - The New York Knicks acquired guard Jamal Crawford and forward Jerome Williams from Chicago on Thursday in exchange for forward Othella Harrington, guard Frank Williams and centers Dikembe Mutombo and Cezary Trybanski.

"Our goal is to win the NBA Championship, and we think the additions of Jamal and Jerome will be important pieces of that puzzle," Knicks president of basketball operations Isiah Thomas said. "Both players have the winning mentality to succeed as Knick players."

Restricted free-agent Crawford, 24, was acquired in a sign-and-trade deal. He averaged 17.3 points and 5.1 assists in 80 games for the Bulls last season, including 71 starts. He was one of just four players this past season to record at least 50 points in a single game.

A four-year NBA veteran, the 6-foot-5 Crawford has improved his scoring, rebounding and assist averages in each season.

"Jamal has the ability to play both guard positions, and adds an additional scoring punch," Thomas said.

The 31-year-old Williams has career averages of 6.9 points and 6.8 rebounds in 508 games over eight NBA seasons. He split time with Toronto and Chicago last year, averaging 6.2 points and 7.0 boards in 68 combined games.

"Jerome is a proven, rugged veteran with playoff experience who will provide us consistency on a nightly basis," said Thomas.

All four players the Knicks traded are in the final year of their contracts.

The 7-2 Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star, and a four-time winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He is joining his sixth NBA team. Last season, the 38-year-old Mutombo averaged 5.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.89 blocks. He has career averages of 12.2 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.33 blocked shots in his 13 years, and is fourth in NBA history with 2,996 blocks.

Williams, who led Illinois to back-to-back Big Ten titles in 2001 and 2002, played in just 77 games in two years after being a first-round draft pick of New York. He averaged 3.2 points and two assists.

Harrington has averaged 8.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in eight NBA seasons. He played in a career-low 56 games last year, averaging 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds.

The 7-2 Trybanski scored one point and grabbed one rebound in a combined seven games with Phoenix and New York last season.

CHI NYK



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